www3traveler

I was just looking at The Jewel's bow web cam. There is still a ton of stuff being stored on the bow deck. If they are going to get to Seattle by Saturday morning, they will need to leave late Wednesday afternoon or very very early Thursday morning.

Does anyone know how long the HD's contract is?

Hotel Director's contracts are: 4 months on, 2 months off. Contracts can be extended.

We thought about the train, but our flight leaves Seattle too early for the ride back.

Can you buy a transportation package from Norwegian? They might have something going from the ship to the airport in Seattle?

My wife and I, along with another couple are taking the NCL Jewel in September for the 7-day Alaska, Seattle to Vancouver. My wife and I have taken this cruise 2 years ago but on HAL and we are new to NCL. I have a number of questions, most of which I have seen in previous posts but are a bit outdated.

 

We are staying in Seattle for 2 nights prior to departure. We have been to Seattle a number of times (have family there) and just love this city. On our last cruise we sailed from Pier 91 which was a pretty good experience. We are in a Penthouse Suite and don't really want to stand in line too long (wife has trouble with that physically). Would showing up around 1030 am be too early, or would it be better to wait longer?

 

I have read a lot of posts about cabins and food. We are in cabin 10164 aft facing SF Penthouse Suite and are looking forward to it. We do love the aft facing cabins (had one on the Valor a few years ago) and chose this one in particular because of the cruise we are on. The other couple that is going along with us will be on deck 11 in an aft mini suite. What sucks is that they are not eligible for the Cagney's dining for breakfast and lunch. Will we be able to order room service from Cagney's for breakfast or lunch for the 4 of us? Also, what does the butler do for you...within reason? Does anyone have any recent photo's or video of this cabin that they would be willing to share?

 

Several years ago my wife and I took a helicopter tour in Hawaii and loved it. The prices for this through NCL are pretty expensive (once in a lifetime though) - does anyone have any recommendations for finding this on our own, and which port would be the best for this type of excursion?

 

Lastly, we have chosen the option of driving from Vancouver back to Seattle for our flight home. Our flight leaves at 3:10 pm...I have taken this drive before but it has been about 7 years ago. I am assuming that we can disembark fairly early if we need to. We are only checking 1 bag per couple, and could easily carry our bags off if needed. Any thoughts? National Car Rental has an office at the airport in Vancouver, as well one at Canada Place but I cannot seem to make a reservation at that office. I noticed that there is light rail/subway that will connect to the airport from Canada Place - is this fairly easy with someone who has some mobility challenges? She can walk, just not really long distances or inclines very well.

 

Well...that is a lot of stuff - I appreciate everyone who contributes here. Every time we have cruised I have done some research here...lots of good info.

A couple of things:

(1) Norwegian sails from Pier 66- downtown next to the Edgewater Hotel behind

Anthony's Bell Street Diner. Depending on how long it takes to clear the previous

cruise, 10:30 A.M. should be fine.

(2) Vancouver- you may not be docking at Canada Place. The Pearl docked at

Bellentyne Place a couple of days ago. Not very much there. Do not know if

you can rent a car or not there. Have you thought about taking the train to

Seattle?

repeater party, that is pretty basic. Free rum punch, wine etc. a few finger foods. I understand not available on the Epic?

Latitudes Party not held: Epic, Breakaway or Getaway.

On other ships held early afternoon of the first sea day.

The last few cruises I've taken, the tips are automatically put on your ship account. But, I don't know how they do it on NCL. Is it cash-in-the-envelope or auto on your on board account?

 

Thanks!

There is a Daily Service Charge added to your on board account to cover tips.

Has anyone done a solo cruise before on any of the NCL ships? If so I'd love to get your thoughts on if you had a great time or if you ended up feeling lonely. Was it easy to make friends or find people to have dinner with?

 

I'm 30 years old from CT and don't have a special someone right now but love to cruise so I don't want to let the lack of someone to go with stop me from doing something I enjoy! I just worry a bit about being trapped for 7 days if I start to regret the decision once onboard. Would love your candid thoughts.

I have had 20 cruises with Norwegian always traveling solo. I never run out of things to do and I never bring anything to read- never have time. Sometimes I dine alone and sometimes not. I never feel lonely on board a ship. What is your next cruise? Sign up on The Roll Call for your cruise and meet people before getting on the ship. There are usually events in the evening for people traveling solo.

Are they replacing the lounge with suites like on other ships?

No changes to Spinnaker Lounge. Putting Morderno on Deck 13 where Star Bar was. O'Sheehan's replacing Blue Lagoon and Morderno on Deck 8. Casino getting some updating.

With the events of yesterday and the NCL Breakaway getting stuck in the Hudson River, I have to wounder if this is a glitch that could also surface with the Getaway. Has NCL commented on it yet?

No, the biggest issue The Breakaway had was the very strong river currents. Ordinarily, there would not have been a problem. The Hudson River can and does cause problems for cruise ships and probably other ships from time to time. Both The Star, The Gem, the epic, The Pearl have ALL had river current problems. NO big deal.

When we got back to our room we found our little lobster friend waiting for us!

 

 

When we went out on our balcony tonight we saw the boat that was guiding us out of port. It was pretty cool to see how they just ride along side of us. I don’t know how true this is, but we were told that someone gets on board, steers the ship out of port and then this little boat pulls up next to us, the man who was steering the boat then hands it over to the Captain and then jumps onto the little boat…well we got to watch this all happen from our balcony!

 

 

 

What you are showing is the Harbor Pilot boat. A local Harbor Pilot comes aboard to ADVISE the ship's Captain as do local waters currents water depth, hazards,etc. AT NO TIME DOES HE TAKE COMMAND OF THE SHIP. They come aboard as enter a local harbor and ride or they come aboard and ride ten or so out then board another ship and bring it into the harbor.

Mandy

Thank you for your review and pictures. I was on this cruise and your pictures and descriptions brought back a lot of fond memories. I love The Gem. This was my 2nd cruise on Her and I am booked again for the cruise just before this year.

Mandy

Alaska became a state on the 4th of July 1959.

I am sailing on The Gem just before Christmas this year, and it is already a very long wait. I love The Gem. This will be my 3rd cruise on Her. I can not wait. FUN FUN FUN!!!

I keep a copy of the photo page of my passport in my wallet. I lock my passport up in my room safe.

This was a Panama Canal cruise? Perhaps she was the pilot?

There is a young lady from Panama that is a Bridge Officer for Norwegian. She was on The Getaway's Transatlantic Crossing in January. I do not remember what rank she held. She had served on the Pearl prior to The Getaway.

There is a female Bridge Officer on The Getaway but I do not remember where she is from or her rank.

If you have a cabin directly under the ship's Bridge, they request that you NOT have your balcony light on. They need total darkness to be able to see clearly.

Mandy

The Escape's Crossing will be better than The Getaway's: late October versus mid January. It was never really warm enough to be outside at all. There were so many activities scheduled each day that it was hard to chose which one to do when. I loved being on the Getaway's crossing that I booked this one as soon as it opened.

GO DUCKS!!!

Mandy

Does anyone know if Hugo is still on the Breakaway and will he be on there in June. We have sailed with Hugo many times in the past on the Dawn and have enjoyed our times with him. I've lost his email, so I cannot contact him to tell him we wll be aboard on June 15th.

Hugo is currently on The Star. I am not sure how long he will be there but he should also have a vacation coming soon.

Yes, that is Julie and Joel (Jersey Boy) in the video.

Yeah was hoping to have him as well. I don't think a cruise director makes or breaks a cruise by any means. But we go to all the parties and shows and stuff, so see them alot. Don't think we've ever been on a cruise with Julie, but I'm sure she is great

Julie was the Cruise Director that was on the Breakaway for Her Transatlantic Crossing to New York City last spring and she was the Cruise Director for The Getaway's Transatlantic Crossing this past January from Southampton, United Kingdom to New York City. If that gives you an indication. She is very good. I have sailed with her a number of times as I have with Sinan. Both very different people but both very good at what they do.

Sinan's schedule has changed and he will be on The Getaway until early July and then his vacation. I believe he said the other day that Julie was currently on The Breakaway.

Staffs changes occur by length of contract not by the season of the ships. Depending on the particular position of a staff member contracts can run anywhere from 10 weeks on 10 weeks off to 9 months on 2 months off.

Wow, you were on the Atlantic crossing? That would have been amazing.

 

Yes, a couple of crew members stood out to us and we filled out the "vacation hero" cards before the end of our cruise. One was a waitress at Ocean Blue who made my wife's birthday a very enjoyable occasion. The other was our cabin steward who was a really nice person.

 

In fact, the whole crew seemed very happy and in a good mood. What a great crew the Getaway has.

The Getaway's Transatlantic Crossing was so much fun that I am now booked on the Escape from Southampton to Miami in October 2015. If you can, please join us, it will be a great cruise as well.

thank you for your wonderful pictures. They bring back a lot of very fond memories. I had the great joy of being on Her from Southampton to New York City. Did any of the staff members stand out to you?